1. Descriptive Grammar – 2S, 2016 Mrs. Belén Berríos Droguett
Functional Units
Descriptive Grammar – 2S, 2016
Mrs. Belén Berríos Droguett

2. Objectives
The main objective of this part of unit 2 is to recognize and be familiar with concepts related to phrases, clauses and the analysis of them
We are going to start with the form of Phrases and Clauses, and then we will get to the Function

3. Form vs. Function
It is good you remember and have some clear ideas about form and function:
Form focus on the shape of words, phrases and clauses, and their more essential/primary aspects. With Form we will refer to concepts such as: noun, verb, NP, PP, etc.
In analysis notation, form concepts go under the word or phrases

4. Form vs. Function
Example:
NP(dThe Ncat) VP(Vis) AdjP(Adjblack)
When analyzing remember make the distinction in the notation of open and closed units:
Open: capital letter
Closed: lower case

5. Form vs. Function
Functions are more related to the role the elements have inside a grammatical unit (Clause or Phrases)
Functions are: Subject, Predicate, Object (Direct and Indirect), Complement (Subject and Object), Adverbial
Subject and Predicate are the principal functions in English Grammar, being the Predicate the most important one, since it contains the verb

6. Form vs. Function Function Symbol Subject S Predicate P Object
Direct Object
Indirect Object O Od Oi
Complement
Subject Complement
Object Complement C Cs Co
Adverbial A

7. Form vs. Function
The notation of functions goes above the element, for example:
S(The cat) P(is Cs(black))

8. Form vs. Function NP(M(a) M(game) H(book))
These functions are seen at the level of sentences/clauses
At the level of phrases there are also some functions which are important to have in mind:
Head
Modifiers: pre-modifiers and post-modifiers
Pre-modifiers: before the Head
Post-modifiers: after the Head
For example:
NP(M(a) M(game) H(book))